IndiaPost.com - Infectious Disease Specialty in India

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MUMBAI: India has the largest number of patient population of which about 50 percent are affected by Infectious Disease (ID). In addition almost 50 percent of the deaths are ID related. In a bit to address the problem, Dr Navin Shah, Co-founder and a former President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) proposed a two year post doctorial training in ID specialty. Dr Shah discussed the proposal with the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Health Minister, Dr A. Ramadoss over a year ago in New Delhi.

They supported the proposal. Last December, Dr Shah convened and chaired a conference of four US ID specialists- Dr Akshay Shah, Dr Indira Brar, Dr Tom Madharan and Dr Marcus Zervos- and ten Indian ID experts including Dr Shiv Lal (Director of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases) in New Delhi.

The conference was convened to present and discuss the US proposal for ID specialty in India to the officials of the National Board of Examinations (NBE). Dr Navin Shah presented the letters of support for the said ID course and training from Dr Michael Saag, Chairman of ID subspecialty Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Dr Nilima Kshirsagar, President of the Infectious Disease Society of India.

The US delegates presented the complete two year (post MD) ID specialty course and training details based on the US model with needed modifications for India. In the USA, the ID specialty is practiced for over 30 years and has at present over 5600 ID specialists. Shah mentioned that the ID specialty has helped to significantly reduce the mortalities and morbidities in ID patients in US. India could also benefit immensely with specialized treatment.

In these days of AIDS, viral diseases, advanced chemotherapy for cancer patients, transplantations and major complicated surgeries, ID specialty is vital. In addition India has vast members of patients with tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy and other communicable diseases. After hours of presentation and discussion, the conference unanimously accepted the proposal.

This proposal was handed over to President Dr Rajasekaran for NBE's consideration & action. In March' 07, the governing Board of NBE agreed to the ID specialty program during 2007. Last April, Dr Navin Shah led the USA ID delegation to present the two year ID specialty course and training to Medical Council of India (MCI) authorities.

Both NBE and MCI approved post graduate medical specialty training. The team presented a complete ID proposal (curriculum, training, institutional qualifications, program monitoring, examinations, etc.) to the Chairman of Post Graduate Committee, Dr Mishra and Secretary, Dr Setalwal at MCI office in New Delhi. After a detailed discussion it was decided by MCI that the committee will quickly study the proposal.

Dr Akshay Shah and Dr Indira Brar offered to both NBE and MCI for training Indian ID teachers in the US as well as in India by ID specialists from USA. Dr Navin Shah assured continual support in ID training and also for joint Indo-US ID research. In addition there will be a program of Indian ID fellow's rotation in the US institutions as well as USA- ID fellow's rotation in Indian institutions.